SWNOVELS Chapter 63
For the next few hours I listened to the girls giggle and watched them eat the plate of sandwiches, then devour a fruit tray, and then eat a giant bag of pretzels. Rosita was right in there laughing and hooting and howling and Dario sat on the counter and shook his head mostly.
I realized that no one had asked where Azriel was. Did they know he was taking care of business? Were they here to keep me company and pass the time so I wouldn’t be pacing the floors wondering if he was okay? Was he okay? What would happen to me if he wasn’t?
Tessa leaned over and patted my shoulder and illustrated some mind-reading skills, “He’ll be fine. That brother of ours is tougher than nails. Trust me! He’s tougher than Uncle, even, and Uncle is one tough motherfucker.”
The others were all nodding. This is exactly what they were doing. They were rallying together during a crisis. All of a sudden, Rosita held her cell phone in front of Lisa and Lisa squirmed, “That’s disgusting!”
Rosita almost tipped her chair over laughing so hard and I glanced over and realized she was still fixated on the picture of all the old men in the speedo bathing suits.
“Ah c’mon Lisa, we all know that’s what you’re into,” Dario said and everyone including Lisa started to laugh uncontrollably. I laughed too because it was pretty funny that they were all here laughing at the expense of Lisa’s husband, the girls’ and Dario’s father, a powerful mobster.
My back was to the entrance to the kitchen at this point and suddenly the room hushed. I saw everyone looking stone-faced past me. I looked back and Mr. Clarke was in the doorway. He was in a black suit and looked solemn.
They all had a horrified look on their faces, like he was here with bad news.
Oh no. My belly dipped and not in a good way.
“What’s so fuckin’ funny?” he broke the tension, “Share. I like jokes.”
Everyone except me howled with laughter. Rosita fell off her chair this time and Lisa fell, too, trying to help Rosita up. Dario was sitting on the counter but doubled over holding his gut, and Luc piped up, “I think I just peed a little.” The fits of laughter roared louder.
Mr. Clarke walked over to the coffee maker and stared at it, then looked down at Rosita who was still on the floor tangled up with Lisa, “Guess I’ll get myself a coffee. Would you like a coffee, Rosita?” his eyebrows perked up at her. He didn’t look like those old guys but math said he had to have about 25 years on Lisa!
“Everyone wants coffee! Except Luciana. You can make her a hot chocolate.” Rosita beamed at him.
“What’s up, Uncle?’ Dario said.
“I’ll make the espresso and then we’ll chat for a minute, son. I just came to pick up Lisa, mostly, and to check on Claire. You okay?” He looked at me and his face was kind, seemed genuine, he seemed different from how he was when I met him that first day. My thoughts flickered to him and my Mother. I nodded, chewing my cheek.
“Good,” he said, “When that boy gets home you do me a favor, okay?”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“You give his right eye a pop for me too, ah? I think it needs to match!” he punched the air with a mean hook. Everyone started to laugh, except me again. I didn’t know what the heck to make of this bunch and their quirky sense of humor. Everyone clearly thinks it’s pretty awesome that I gave Azriel a black eye. Everyone here wants me to feel welcome, too, it seems.
Now I understand what Azriel meant by the whole “Clarke family experience” comment. I can’t imagine how nuts it is with all the kids and the spouses together with all these guys during something celebratory rather than a stressful situation like this!
Mr. Clarke brewed espresso for everyone except me and Luc. He made her a hot chocolate with whipped cream on it and then he made me a cappuccino with a heart pattern on it and smiled at me as he put the cup down. It looked like it came from a fancy café.
“Thank you, Mr. Clarke,” I said.
“Call me Uncle.” He winked. He signaled Dario to follow him into the other room. I looked down at the cup and got lost in thought. I noticed the room was quiet and I looked up from the heart shaped foam in my cup to see all eyes on me. I felt uncomfortable for a beat and then the girls all started chatting again and suddenly Luc grabbed my hand and placed it on her belly and I felt her baby kicking.
“This better be the boy!” she said, “I have twin girls in the terrible two’s and my first wish is there’s just one in here.” She pointed to her big round belly, “My second wish is that it be a boy so that I can say I’ve done my wifely duty and then the doctor can tie my tubes.”
Tessa piped up, “I guarantee it’s another girl. I can feel it.”
“Oh shut up!” Luc answered and pretended to smack at her sister, “If this is another girl, I’ll do this one more time, just one. If it’s another girl then I’m done, heirs or no heirs!”
All three of them look alike, a bit like Azriel but blonde and a little different. They must take after their mother a bit because I can see that Azriel definitely takes after his father. Lisa is a pretty girl and a little older than me but I can see how she’s attracted to him. He’s handsome and holds his age well. She fits with these girls perfectly. They seem like they’re all best friends. I idly hope that I can one day feel carefree again. Right now that feels a little far from possible.